Improvement in buggy-tops



J. F. FowL'En.

Buggy-Tops.

Patented May12, 1874.

'\No.l50,753.

ATTUBNEYS UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JorNvILLE E. EowLEE, 0E oAEEoLLToN, oruo.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUGGV-TOPS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,753, dated May 12, 1874 5 application led March 7, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .IorNvrLLE F. FowLER, of Carrollton, in the county of Carroll and State'of Ohio, have invented a new and Im proved Carriage-Top, of which the following is a specication:

In the Aaccompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved carrlagetop; Fig. 2 a rear view, and Fig. 3 a side view, of the same folded down.

\ Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

rI he objectzof my invention is to construct, f or carriages, bug-gies, and other vehicles, a light, neat, and strong top, which folds neatly and easily together, and carries the back 1nto such shape between the stays that 1t 1s not exposed to the dust and wear by `hanging over the body of the carriage, but

is protected so as to be of longer duration. The top cover is also less exposed to wear by the attachment to the bow-sections, requiring less repairs, and producing a better top. My invention consists of two bow sections or frames, which are pivoted to the main supporting stays, and folded toward the same. llorlzontal jointed stays stiffcn them in uprlght position, while inclined side-stays, pivoted to the main stays, and gearing, by mutilated end pinions, with the rear top-stays, slmilarly pivoted thereto, carry the top up or down on raising or lowering the main stays for instant adjustment, and support the same strongly and firmly thereon.

In the drawing, A represents the body of the carriage, buggy, or other vehicle, provided with side standards B B at the front and rear part, to which are pivoted the main stays C and the jointed inclined stays C. The front bow frame or section D is pivoted to the upper ends of main stays C, being constructed of lateral metallic end bars, and connecting bow-shaped bars, over which the top cover D is stretched. Elbow -levers F are pivoted near the upper ends of main stays G, and are connected at their upper ends to the rear bow frame or section D, which is constructed like the front section, and placed symmetrically to the same, being more flexible by being pivoted to the intermediate elbow-levers F. The top cover Dl extends over the space between the top frames, to the end of the rear france, and changes, on folding the top down, its position but little, remaining in stretched position thereon, and being thereby exposed to less wear than the loose and folding buggy-covers. The jointed front and rear bow-stays G are pivoted to the main stays C and the outer bars of the bow-sections, and serve to stiften and support the bow-sections when thrown up, assuming a horizontal position, and forming the chord of the front sections. The inclined stays C' are pivoted sidewise of vthe front bow-stays G, and gear, bymutilated pinions a at the upper ends, with similar pinions c of the rear bow-stays C, which are pivoted to short bracketarms b of the main stays.

When the joints of the stays are loosened,

and the top carried up or down by the main stays, the pinions of inclined and rear bowstays mesh, and cause the stretching or fold ing of the same, so that the top is rapidly thrown into folded or raised position by this connection.

The rear part D3 of the cover Dl is stretched between back part of seat and end of rear bow-frame, and is folded in upward direction on bringing the top down into curved or flattened shape, as shown in Fig. 3, being out of the way, and, to a great degree, protected thereby against dust and the rubbing with the body of the carriage.

The top cover incloses the bach cover, the stays'folding over within a small com pass at the rear of the seat, out of t le way.

The construction of the top is strong and durable, yet neat, and easily operated and Y bined with the jointed front and rear bow-stays closed position by the motion of the main stays, Gr and main stays O, for supporting the top substantially als specified. sections :is described.

3. The combination of the main stays C, JOINVILLE F' FOVVLER" jointed inclined stays C', having oogged ends Witnesses: a, with gear bow-stays G, having eogged THOMAS L. PATTON, ends al, for throwing the top into open and A. P. MORTLAND. 

